Removable label tabs for attachment to



March 1964 H. J. DOLMAN .ETAL 3,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEAT SEALABLE AND REMOVABLE LABEL TABSFOR ATTACHMENT To V TEXTILE ARTICLES File d June 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheetl Attorney:

March 1964 H. J. DOLMAN ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEATSEALABLE AND REMOVABLE LABEL TABS FOR ATTACHMENT T0 TEXTILE ARTICLES 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1959 3' m w y 2 A 1 I 2 7/ #Z March 3,1964 H. J. DOLMAN ETAL 3,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEAT SEALABLE AND REMOVABLE LABEL TABSFOR ATTACHMENT TO TEXTILE ARTICLES Filed June 18, 1959 5 Shets-Sheet :s

A ttorneys March 3, 1964 H. J. DOLMAN ETAL 3,123,510

. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEAT SEALABLE AND REMOVABLE LABELTABS FOR ATTACHMENT To TEXTILE ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 18,1959 M 3, 1964 H. J. DOLMAN ETAL 3,1

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEAT SEALABLE AND REMOVABLE LABEL TABSFOR ATTACHMENT TO TEXTILE ARTICLES Filed June 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5I nventor Attorney United States Patent 3,123,510 METHDD AND APPARATUSFOR FORMING HEAT SEALABLE AND REMOVABLE LABEL TABS FOR ATTACHMENT T0TEXTILE ARTICLES Henry James Dolman, Pennywell Road, Bristol 5, England,and Hans Meyer, 63 Jeddo Road, London W. 12, England Filed June 18,1959, Ser. No. 821,298 Ciaims priority, application Great Britain June23, 1958 Claims. (Cl. 156-204) The present invention relates to heatsealable tabs or labels intended to be attached to textile articles bythe application of heat and pressure, and it particularly relates toremovable tabs or labels adapted to be removed from the marked articleswhen required.

The present invention also relates to methods and devices for producingsuch tabs or labels and to methods of marking articles employing suchtabs or labels. Such tabs or labels may for example be employed formarking articles to be subjected to laundry or dry-cleaning operations;they serve for identification purposes and are intended to be removed oncompletion of such operations. The use of such tabs or labels for thetemporary marking of textile articles has been described in US. PatentsNos. 2,639,255, 2,639,256 and 2,828,776 and suitable machines for use inconjunction with such tabs or labels have been described in BritishPatent No. 644,119 and US. Patent No. 2,654,496 and co-pendingapplication Serial No. 667,653, now Patent No. 2,986,298.

All these proposals are based on the use of a thermoplastic component inthe tab or label which component is capable of being softened so as torender it adhesive to a textile article at a temperature below thescorching point of said article. Further in U.S. Patent No. 2,639,256 ithas been suggested that a solvent should be applied to the tab or labelprior to its application to a textile article under heat and pressurefor the purpose promoting softening of the thermoplastic component sothat the tab or label can be caused to adhere to a textile article. Forreasons of economy in production such tabs or labels are preferablyformed by cutting pieces from a strip of material having a widthcorresponding to the length of the tab or label, and produced byslitting from a relatively wide fabric.

It is necessary in the case of a removable tab to provide an edgeportion which is not liable to adhere to the article and thus is adaptedto serve as a finger grip to enable the tab or label to be gripped andpulled off the article when required. The finger grip may be formed bysubjecting the tab or label to heat and pressure in such manner trat oneedge part of the tab or label is not subjected to heat and pressure andthus does not adhere to the article.

It is of course important that the finger grip shall not be caused toadhere to the article in the course of subsequent handling operationsinvolving heat and pressure, to which the article may be subjected. Ifthe thermoplastic component used is of such a nature that a solvent mustbe present to promote softening during the application of the tab orlabel, there is no danger that the edge part forming the finger gripwill later adhere to the article, as, with the evaporation of thesolvent, the thermoplastic component is not liable to be softened againin handling operations such as ironing, pressing or calendering.

For certain purposes however it is not convenient or desirable toutilise a solvent for the thermoplastic component of the tab or label,for example where articles are to be marked which are formed from fabricwhich would be liable to be adversely affected by the solvent employedand at an elevated temperature. Thus for example garments intended to bedry-cleaned are often 3,123,510 Patented Mar. 3, 1964 formed at least inpart from synthetic yarns which may in some cases be of a thermoplasticcharacter which would be adversely affected by the solvent at anelevated temperature.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a tab or labelcomprising a thermoplastic component, which is adapted to be applied andfixed to a textile article while leaving a finger grip which isincapable of adhering to the article, the application being effectedwith heat and pressure but without involving the use of a solvent.

In British specification No. 668,305 it has been proposed to form tabsor labels by subjecting a strip of backing material having thermoplasticadhesive material as sociated with one face thereof, to a folding-overoperation along one edge to enclose or overlap 2. corresponding portionof the said thermoplastic material and then cutting tabs from thisedge-folded strip of material by successive transverse cuttingoperations. In this case the adhesive material may be a coating upon thebacking or alternatively thermoplastic filaments may be included withthe backing material.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention a tab or labelis provided which comprises a Woven or other fabric produced partly fromthermoplastic yarns and partly from non-theromplastic yarns designed insuch manner that the thermoplastic yarns are exposed mainly orexclusively on that face of the fabric which is to be caused to adhereunder heat and pressure to an article to be marked and is provided withan edge portion which is folded under on to the face intended to beadhered to the article so that said folded under portion issubstantially incapable of adhering to the article and thus forms afinger grip permitting the tab or label to be peeled off when required.

The present invention also comprises a method of forming a tab or labelwhich consists in partially severing a tab or label transversely from asupply strip having a thermoplastic component on one face thereof,folding under a severed part of said strip with said face inwards ofthefolding and thereafter completing the severance of said strip Thepresent invention also comprises a device for carrying out this methodcomprising cutting elements adapted to sever a portion of a supply stripof tab or label material having a thermoplastic component on one facethereof and means to fold under a section of said severed portion withsaid face inwards of the folding to form a folded edge part of the tabor label, said severance means then continuing to operate to sever thetab or label completely from the supply strip.

Such device may form part of a marking machine similar to that describedin copending application Serial No. 667,654, now abandoned,incorporating a gripper adapted to engage the folded under end of thetab or label and then to carry said tab or label after severance andwhile gripped at the folded under portion with the remainder of the tabor label trailing behind the gripper, first to a marking station wherean identification marking is printed on the upper face of the tab orlabel, i.e., the face not comprising the thermoplastic component, andsubsequently to transfer the marked tab or label to a position overlyingan article to be marked at which position the label and the article aresubjected to the action of heat and pressure to cause the tab or labelto adhere to the article while leaving the finger grip unattached topermit subsequent removal of the tab or label when required.

The material used for forming the tab or label in accordance with themethods and by the apparatus described above should be adhesive underthe .action of heat and pressure primarily or essentially on one faceonly and for this purpose the tab or label may comprise a suitable basematerial such as a fabric or paper-like material coated with a layer ofthermoplastic material on one face or alternatively it may comprise awoven fabric consisting in part of thermoplastic yarns and in part ofnon-thermoplastic yarns, but woven in such manner that the thermoplasticmaterial is exposed to a greater extent 011 that face which is to beapplied and adhered to an article to be marked, than on the oppositeface which is intended primarily to bear an identification marking.Fabrics of this character are described in U.S. specification No.2,828,776 although other types of fabric may be used which are such asto expose one set of yarns, i.e., the thermoplastic yarns, to apreponderant extent on one face of the fabric, i.e., the face which isto be stuck to the article to be marked.

With this arran ement and by folding under one edge part of the tab orlabel with the face of the tab or label bearing the thermoplasticcomponent folded upon itself for an edge portion thereof, it will beunderstood that when such tab or label is caused to adhere under heatand pressure to an article to be marked the folded under portion is notliable to adhere (under heat and pressure) to the marked article andthus forms a free and substantially non-adhering finger grip when it isapplied to the article under heat and pressure and further is not liableto become unintentionally attached or adhered to the article during thecourse of handling operations to which the article may be subjected.

One construction of tabs or labels and methods and means for producingthem according to the present invention are shown by way of example onthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the tab or label according to the present inventionand also shows the supply strip from which it is formed,

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views illustrating successive steps inthe formation of the tab or label,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detail views plan and in section respectively showingthe formation of the tab or label,

FIG. 7 is an elevation of the mechanism for producing such tabs orlabels, this figure corresponding in direction to FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a plan showing the application of the mechanism of FIG. 7 to amarking machine.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views showing the arrangement of thecams for operating the mechanism shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 10 also showingpartially in section the top table of the machine and the generallocation of the tab-forming mechanism of FIG. 7; FIGURE 11 is a partsectional elevation from the rear of the machine showing the cooperativerelation of the various parts.

The tab or label shown at T in FIG. 1 is provided with one edge partwhich is folded under on itself as indicated at F, the folded underportion providing a finger grip which is not liable to adhere when thetab or label is applied under heat and pressure to an article to bemarked. The tab or label T is formed from a woven or other fabriccomprising heat scalable thermoplastic yarns and non-thermoplastic yarnsin repeated sequence and of which the face a is intended to receive aprinted or other identification marking, while the opposite face b isintended to be applied in contact with an article to be marked, thethermoplastic yarns being exposed on one face to permit the tab or labelto be fixed by heat scaling to a textile article. The folded edge F isfolded under on to the under face b of the tab or label with said faceI) inwards of the fold.

The fabric is woven or otherwise produced in such manner that thethermoplastic yarns are exposed mainly on the face 12 of the fabricwhile the face :1 contains a smaller proportion or substantially noexposed thermoplastic yarns. Such fabric may be for example of thecharacter disclosed in U.S. specification No. 2,828,776 although othertypes of fabric may be adopted.

Such tab or label is produced from a supply strip S of a suitable fabricwhich is conveniently produced by slitting a comparatively wide loomfabric, the strips so out being supplied as reels to the marking machinefor producing such tabs or labels and for applying them to an article tobe marked, the width of the strip corresponding to the length of the tabor label minus the length lost by folding under the edge part F. It willbe seen that the folded under edge part F is formed in the course ofproducing the tab or label T whereas the supply strip S consists of aplain, i.e., non-folded, strip of suitable width. FIGS. 2, 3 and 4illustrate successive stages in the production of this tab or label T.The first such stage illustrated in FIG. 2 consists in forming anincision in one edge to partially sever a tongue t from the leading edgeof the supply strip S, the cut made extending for example from one edgeto the distance indicated at d. The tongue t so formed is then engagedby a folder memher 8, conveniently of angle shape, which is initiallymoved in the downward direction indicated by the arrow P until thetongue 1? is turned down approximately at right angles as shown in FIG.3. Then the member 8 moves at right angles to the former movement, i.e.,in the direction of the arrow Q, to fold the tongue 1 beneath the partsevered portion of the strip S as indicated in FIG. 4 thus forming thefolded under edge portion F. Thereafter or as the final operationsindicated are completed, severance of the tab or label T is completedand the tab or label is transferred to an applying position. For examplethe transfer member 50 of FIG. 5 may move into position to grip thefolded under portion F and then said gripper means may move the severedtab or label T away from the cutting position and transfer itsuccessively to a marking position and to a position where it is appliedto an article to be marked.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that theportion of the supply strip S which is to form the tab or label T issupported on a table 9 one edge 10' of which is thinned to a fine point,the thickness of these parts being however exaggerated on the drawing toshow the construction more cleanly. FIG. 6 shows in cross section theparts shown in FIG. 4 with the folder member 8 underlying the leadingedge portion of the table 9 and thus completing the formation of thefolded under portion P, which is folded in V-form around the edge of thetable 9.

The transfer member 50 preferably moves in a rotary path and forms partof a label applying machine one example of which is indicated in outlineform in FIG. 8 in plan, showing the top face or table 127 of the machinewhereas the front wall provides the support for an article supportmember 13 movable from a forwardly inclined loading position shown infull lines to a vertical label applying position shown in chain-dotlines. The transfer member 5! comprises a lower jaw 501 and an upper jaw502. An upwardly movable presser member 18 mounted slidably in themember 13, presses the article and the labelin the position B-upwarcllyagainst a heated platen not shown.

A vertical fixed shaft 65 projecting into a parti-circular housing inthe table top rotatably carries the drive wheel element 52 of a Genevawheel intermittent drive, which is actuated in the usual way by means ofa Geneva wheel driver disc 53 having driver pins 54 which enter theradial slots of the wheel 52. Free rotation of the wheel 52 during thenon-driving periods is prevented by the engagement of the cylindricalsurface portions 56 of the disc 53 with curved face portions 55 of theGeneva wheel 5-2.

The transfer member 50' is carried by a projecting arm 504 on a bushing651 rotatable on the shaft 65 and comprises the lower jaw member 501which is of a yielding character. The arm 504 carries bearings for aspindle 503 carrying the upper gripper jaw 502 at one end and a follower505 riding on a fixed cam 69 mounted on the 5 shaft 65 to open and closethe topjaw 5112 to grip and release the label T as required.

The driver disc 53 is driven from the main shaft 42 of the machineFIGS.9 and lwhich is operated for one complete marking cycle and then stops.FIG. 8 shows the respective parts in the normal or rest position. Itwill be seen that the transfer member 51 holds the previously formedlabel in the position A where it is ready to receive an identificationmarking by printing means not shown. In FIGURE 11 identical numbers areemployed to designate identical parts, the numeral 531 designates abevel gear for driving the Geneva wheel 53 and numeral 971 designatescam rollers mounted on the rocker arm 97. These rollers are also shownin FIGURE 9.

The marking cycle is initiated by inward movement of the member 13 tothe chain-dot line position whereupon the following cycle of eventsoccurs:

(1) The Geneva wheel 52 rotates through one-quarter revolution to placethe label over the article on the member 13; this is the position Bshown. Pressure is exerted on the article and the label by the pressermember 13, pressure being maintained for nearly the whole of the rest ofthe cycle.

(2) The Geneva wheel moves through one-quarter revolution to positionthe transfer member opposite the position A; this is an idle position,

(3) During the next quarter revolution the label is formed as shown inFIGS. 1 to 4 and is engaged by the transfer member 50; this is positionC of FIG. 8, and finally,

(4) The label is carried by the transfer member 50 to the startingposition A ready for the next cycle of the machine, the machine thenstopping and the member 13 being released so that it moves forward tothe unloading and re-loading position shown in full lines.

It will be seen that the strip material S enters from a cutter unit atthe rear of the machine in a direction towards the axis of the shaft 65,and that the label is moved through an angle of 180 to the labelapplying position B which lies at the front of the machine. Dealing nowwith the mechanism for forming the label T, in the position shown inchain dot lines in FIG. 8, the folded edge part F shown in FIGS. 1 and 4is engaged between the gripper jaws with the latter clear of the angledend part of the member 8, as shown in FIGURE .5. Thereafter the member 3continues its downward movement and then moves in the opposite directionto the arrow Q (see FIGURE 6), before it returns to the startingposition shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. The under face of the table 9 may beprovided with a humped guide surface 11 and the lower jaw 501 of thetransfer member 51), being of spring material, is guided by the guidesurface 11 smoothly into engagement with the under face of the foldedunder edge part F while the upper jaw &12 of the transfer member pressesagainst the upper face of the tab or label T beneath which is disposedthe folded under edge part F.

At or shortly before this stage the severance of the tab or label T iscompleted and on continued movement of the transfer member 50 the tab orlabel is carried away from the table 9, conveniently in a rotary path,towards the marking and applying stations A and B. Thereafter a furtherlength of the supply strip S is delivered by suitable feed rollers oneof which is shown at 24 in FIG. 11 ready for forming the next tab orlabel T.

One form of apparatus for producing the tabs or labels is shown indetail in FIGS. 7 and 11, where a main support 12 is adapted to besupported on the machine and said support is arranged in front of thefeed rollers, which are adapted to supply the strip S in successivelengths at successive operations of the machine to a point between upperand lower cutter blades 19, 20, which have a shearing action and on tothe table 9 standing forwardly from the lower cutter blade 21 The cutterblade 20 is fixed, whereas the cutter blade 19 is pivotally movable. Themain support 12 carries guide means 23 for a vertically reciprocatory'rod 21. The rod 21 is also guided towards its upper end in a guide 35associated with an angle-shaped bracket 45 extending over the cutterblade 19. The rod 21 is adapted to be actuated by linkage means 25 froma rocker 97 having spaced rollers 971 engaging double earns 96 on themain shaft 42 (FIGS. 9 and 11) said cams being arranged so that themovable cutter blade 19 carried by a holder 22 fixed to the rod 21 isopera-ted in successive steps, the first step being the cutting of theedge part or tongue t which is to be folded beneath the tab or label asalready explained. The rod 21 is continued above the guide 35 and issubjected to the action of a spring 26 which tends to lift the slide rod21.

The holder 22 is also arranged to act as a slide mounting for a member2'7 carrying the angled folder member 8, and said member 27 is providedon the opposite side of the holder 22 with an enlarged head part 28,which is subjected to the action of a spring 29 adapted to engage anextended face portion 36 on a bell crank 31, one arm of which is linkedto a push rod 32 operable by a rocker 44 having a follower 43 engaging afurther cam 8 associated with the main machine shaft 42, said cam 98being designed and timed so as to cause the folder member 8 to executethe required movements.

The free end of the cutter blade 1? is guided in a guide element 33 inFIG. 11 associated with the bracket 45 carrying the guide 35. The table9 is arranged to project forwardly (as seen in FIG. 7) adjacent thelower cutter blade 21 so that a length of the strip S fed forward toform the tab T lies upon the table 9 in the manner indicated on FIG. 5so that the two successive stages of severing the tab T are performedwith the end part of the strip which is to form the tab T lying upon thetable 9 adjacent the line of severance effected by the cutting blades19, 20, suitable spring means 36 being provided to ensure that the shearcutting blade 19 is pressed against the other blade 20' during cutting.'In the structural arrangement shown on the drawing the main sup port 12carries or has attached to it the cross bearer 34 to which the bracket45' carrying the guide 35 is attached at its free end.

The manner of operation of the mechanism shown will be readilyunderstood. Assuming that a sufficient length of the strip S has beenfed forwardly to form a tab T, the cam 96 being shaped to operate therod 21 and then to cause the cutter blade 19 to execute the first partof its movement to sever the tongue portion 1 from the so ply strip S.During the initial part of the downward movement of the slide rod 21 theangled folding member 8 moves from the position shown in FIG. 2 to theposition shown in FIG. 3 to initiate the folding of the edge part t ofthe tab T. Thereafter the cam 93 actuating the push rod displaces member2'7 and moves the folding member 8 to the position shown in FIG. 4, thuspressing the edge part t against the under face of the leading edge ofthe table 9 towards the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The faceportion 30 of the bell crank 31 is now substantially vertical, and, onthe continued downward movement of the slide rod 21, the folding member3 continues its downward movement but without any substantial auxiliarycomponent. Before the slide rod 21 continues its downward movement thetransfer member 59 has however engaged the folded under part of the tabT so that the folded under edge is retained in position. As the sliderod 21 continues its downward movement, the tab T is completely severed;and, at any suitable stage, the transfer member continues its movementwithdrawing the formed tab or label from the table 9 and thus carries itto the successive working stations.

What we claim is:

1. The method of producing a tab for temporary marking of textilearticles comprising the steps of feeding a portion of a strip of fibroustab material, having a heatscalable thermoplastic component exposedpredominantly on one face of the material, through severing meansadapted to sever said tab from said strip of fibrous tab material;partially severing a portion of said strip transversely from one edge;folding under on itself the partially severed portion of the strip oftab material with portions of said one face in mutually facing positionsand thereafter completing the severing of said portion of the strip.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the Width of said strip offibrous tab material corresponds to the length of the finished tab.

3. The method of marking articles comprising the steps of feeding alength of supply strip of fibrous tab material having a heat-scalablethermoplastic component exposed predominantly on one face and having awidth corresponding to the length of the finished tab, the amount fedcorresponding to the 'width of the tab, partially severing a portion ofsaid strip transversely from one edge, folding under on itself thepartially severed portion of the strip of tab material with portions ofsaid one face in mutually facing position, gripping said portion,completing the severing of said portion of the strip whereby a finishedtab is formed, and thereafter displacing the severed tab to a pressingzone where said tab will be secured to an article.

4. Apparatus for forming tabs bearing a heat-scalable thermoplasticcomponent on one face for attachment under heat and pressure to atextile article comprising means to feed successive portions of a stripof fibrous tab material, means for initially partially severing saidportions of the strip of tab material by incision from one edge, meansthereafter for folding under said portions of said strip with said faceshaving said thermoplastic component in contact with each other, andmeans finally for completely severing the successive portions of thestrip of tab material from each other, whereby a series of individualtabs is formed.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein both said means for partiallyand completely severing said successive portions of the strip of tabmaterial comprise a single pair of relatively movable cutter blades.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising a support table adjoiningsaid cutter blades and over which the strip of tab material is fed andupon which said strip of tab material rests during movement of thecutter blades said table having a leading edge portion beyond which saidstrip of tab material projects, and said means for folding under saidportions of said strip comprises a folder member movable transversely ofsaid portions of the strip of tab material to cause successive portionsof the strip to be bent downwardly against the edge of the table andmovable inwardly to fold said successive portions of the strip of tabmaterial beneath the table.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said pair of cutter bladescomprises a pivotally movable cutter lade and a fixed cutter blade saidapparatus ifurther comprising feed rollers disposed to one side of saidmovable and fixed cutter blades, and a support table lying on theopposite side of said movable and fixed cutter blades adapted to supportthe strip of tab material.

8. A machine for marking textile articles by the application ofheat-sealable tabs to the article to be marked, comprising means to feeda length of fibrous strip material having a width corresponding to thelength of the tab, a fixed blade and a pivotally movable blade having amutual shearing action to cut a tab piece from the strip material, asupport table adapted to support said length of strip material, means tooperate said pivotally movable cutter blade to partially sever a portionfrom one side edge of the strip material, said table having a side edgelying inwardly of the side edge of said portion of strip material, afolder member movable downwardly from a position above said portion ofthe strip material to a point below the strip material to fold saidportion first downwardly and then beneath the side edge of the table inU-form around said border edge, transfer means adapted to grip saidfolded edge of said portion while folded around the side edge of thetable, means to actuate the pivotal'ly movable cutter blade tocompletely sever the strip material, whereby an individual tab isformed, and means to actuate said transfer means to convey the tab afterseverance and while held by said gripper to a position for heat-sealingcontact with the article to be marked.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said table is provided withupper and lower surfaces, one said surface having a humped guide area,and the transfer member comprises upper and lower jaws adapted to passover the upper and lower surfaces of the table, respectively, said guidearea being a guide for one of said jaws while moving over a surface ofthe table and the folder member to engage the folded edge portion ofsaid strip material.

10. The method of producing a tab for temporary marking of textilearticles comprising cutting a portion of a strip of fibrous tab materialtransversely from one edge to an extent less than the full Width of thestrip, said strip of tab material having a heat-scalable thermoplasticcomponent exposed predominantly on one face of the material, foldingunder said portion of said strip with said face of said portion incontact with said face adjacent said portion and thereafter continuingthe out along the same cutting direction for complete severance of thetab.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,779,241 Kohnle Oct. 21, 1930 2,303,346 Flood Dec. 1, 1942 2,360,973Pedersen Oct. 24, 1944 2,639,256 Meyer May 19, 1953 2,654,496 Meyer etal Oct. 6, 1953 2,679,928 Bishop et al June 1, 1954 2,874,752 Brey Feb.24, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 663,305 Great Britain Mar. 12, 1952

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING A TAB FOR TEMPORARY MARKING OF TEXTILE ARTICLES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FEEDING A PORTION OF A STRIP OF FIBROUS TAB MATERIAL, HAVING A HEATSEALABLE THERMOPLASTIC COMPONENT EXPOSED PREDOMINANTLY ON ONE FACE OF THE MATERIAL, THROUGH SEVERING MEANS ADAPTED TO SEVER SAID TAB FROM SAID STRIP OF FIBROUS TAB MATERIAL; PARTIALLY SEVERING A PORTION OF SAID STRIP TRANSVERSELY FROM ONE EDGE; FOLDING UNDER ON ITSELF THE PARTIALLY SEVERED PORTION OF THE STRIP OF TAB MATERIAL WITH PORTIONS OF SAID ONE FACE IN MUTUALLY FACING POSITIONS AND THEREAFTER COMPLETING THE SEVERING OF SAID PORTION OF THE STRIP. 